Life Is Beautiful
Brief Synopsis
An Italian Jew¿s sense of humor is his only hope when he and his family are put into a concentration camp.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Roberto Benigni
Director
Robert Camero
Executed German Soldier
Nicoletta Braschi
Dora Orefice
Giorgio Cantarini
Giosue Orefice
Roberto Benigni
Guido Orefice
Giustino Durano
Uncle
Film Details
Also Known As
La vie est belle, La vita e bella, Leben ist schön, Livet är underbart, vida es bella, vie est belle, vita e bella
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Foreign
Period
War
Release Date
1998
Production Company
Miramax International
Distribution Company
MIRAMAX; Ascot Elite Entertainment Group; Bac Films Distribution; Buena Vista International; Cecchi Gori Pictures; China Film Group; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Kinepolis Film Distribution; Lauren Films; MIRAMAX; Miramax Home Entertainment; RCV Distribution; Skifan Hf; Village Roadshow Limited; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
Location
Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 2m
Synopsis
In 1939, Guido, an Italian Jew, falls in love with Dora, who isn't Jewish. He woos her away from the Fascist official she has been dating, and they get married. Their son Giosue grows up among growing anti-Semitism. As the war progresses, Guido and Giosue are arrested and taken to a concentration camp. Dora goes too, determined not to separate the family. In the midst of the horrors of the camp, Guido protects his son by pretending that survival in the concentration camp is an elaborate game with which Giosue must play along or be sent home.
Director
Roberto Benigni
Director
Cast
Robert Camero
Executed German Soldier
Nicoletta Braschi
Dora Orefice
Giorgio Cantarini
Giosue Orefice
Roberto Benigni
Guido Orefice
Giustino Durano
Uncle
Sergio Bustric
Ferruccio
Lydia Alfonsi
Guicciardini
Giuliana Lojodice
Headmistress
Amerigo Fontani
Rodolfo
Pietro Desilva
Bartolomeo
Francesco Guzzo
Vittorino
Raffaella Lebboroni
Elena
Marisa Paredes
Dora'S Mother
Horst Buchholz
Doctor Lessing
Claudio Alfonsi
Rodolfo'S Friend
Gil Baroni
Prefect
Massimo Bianchi
Man With Key
Jurgen Bohn
German Orderly At Celebration
Verena Buratti
German Auxiliary
Ennio Consalvi
General Graziosi
Giancarlo Consentino
Ernesto--The Waiter
Aaron Craig
Us Driver
Alfiero Falomi
King
Daniela Fedtke
German Auxiliary
Antonio Fommei
School Janitor
Stefano Frangipani
Player
Ernst Frowein Holger
German Sergeant
Alessandra Grassi
Schoolmistress
Hannes Helmann
German Corporal
Wolfgang Hillinger
German General At Celebration
Margareta Lucia Krauss
Soldier Who Feeds Children
Patrizia Lazzarini
Woman At Grand Hotel
Maria Letizia
Woman At Grand Hotel
Concetta Lombardo
Gigliola
Maria Rita Macellari
Queen
Carlotta Mangione
Eleonora
Franco Mescolini
School Inspector
Francesca Messinese
Lady At Opera
Inger Lise Middleton
German Auxiliary
Andrea Nardi
Decorator
Gunther Pfanzelter
German Soldier
Cristina Porchiella
Unmarried Schoolmistress
Nino Prester
Bruno
Gina Rovere
Dora'S Governess
Laura Rudeberg
German Auxiliary
Massimo Salvanti
Policeman At Map Shop
Richard Sammel
Official
James Shindler
Transfixed German
Andrea Tidona
Grand Hotel Porter
Dirk Karsten Van Den Berg
German Soldier
Giovanna Villa
Registrar
Horst Buchholz
Voice Of Doctor Lessing (English Language Version)
Jonathan Nichols
Voice Of Guido (English Language Version)
Ilaria Borrelli
Voice Of Dora (English Language Version)
James Falzone
Voice Of Giosue (English Language Version)
Chip Bolcik
Voice Of Rodolfo (English Language Version)
Marc A Schwarz
Voice Of Us Driver (English Language Version)
Montserrat Caballe
Performer
Shirley Verret
Performer
Pietro De Silva
Crew
Gianni Arduini
1st Assistant Director
Roberto Benigni
From Story
Roberto Benigni
Screenwriter
Roberto Benigni
Story By
Giusy Bovino
Key Hairstylist
Gianluigi Braschi
Producer
Daniele Cama
Assistant Director
Vincenzo Cerami
From Story
Vincenzo Cerami
Screenwriter
Vincenzo Cerami
Story By
Claudio Chiossi
Re-Recording Mixer
Walter Cossu
Key Makeup
Mario Cotone
Executive Producer
Tonino Delli Colli
Director Of Photography
Tonino Delli Colli
Dp/Cinematographer
Maurizio Diclemente
Other
Danilo Donati
Costume Designer
Danilo Donati
Production Designer
Alberto Doni
Re-Recording Mixer
Elda Ferri
Producer
G Gabetti
Music ("Marcia Reale")
Enrico Iacoponi
Key Makeup
Adela Angela Lojodice
Choreographer
Leda Lojodice
Choreographer
Tullio Lullo
Production Manager
Giovanni Marino
Assistant Director
Tullio Morganti
Sound
Naldo Nibbi
Unit Manager
Jacques Offenbach
Music ("Belle Nuit 'Barcarolle' (From 'Les Contes D'Hoffmann')")
Giorgia Onofri
Script Supervisor
Simona Paggi
Editor
Marcello Pezzetti
Historical Consultant
Nicola Piovani
Music Conductor & Orchestrator
Nicola Piovani
Music
John Rogers
Post-Production Supervisor (New York)
Shaila Rubin
Casting
Pietro Sassaroli
Production Manager
Olivia Sleiter
Unit Manager
Luigi Spoletini
Assistant Director
Fabio Venturi
Music Recorder
Marco Vittorio
Adr
Film Details
Also Known As
La vie est belle, La vita e bella, Leben ist schön, Livet är underbart, vida es bella, vie est belle, vita e bella
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Foreign
Period
War
Release Date
1998
Production Company
Miramax International
Distribution Company
MIRAMAX; Ascot Elite Entertainment Group; Bac Films Distribution; Buena Vista International; Cecchi Gori Pictures; China Film Group; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Kinepolis Film Distribution; Lauren Films; MIRAMAX; Miramax Home Entertainment; RCV Distribution; Skifan Hf; Village Roadshow Limited; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
Location
Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 2m
Award Wins
Best Actor
1999
Roberto Benigni
Best Foreign Language Film
1999
Best Music Original Dramatic Score
1999
Award Nominations
Best Director
1999
Roberto Benigni
Best Film Editing
1999
Best Picture
1999
Best Writing, Screenplay
1999
Articles
Life is Beautiful
An Italian Jew's sense of humor is his only hope when he and his family are put into a concentration camp.
Life is Beautiful
An Italian Jew's sense of humor is his only hope when he and his family are put into a concentration camp.
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States November 6, 1998
Released in United States August 27, 1999
Released in United States on Video July 20, 1999
Released in United States 1998
Released in United States July 1998
Released in United States August 1998
Released in United States October 1998
Released in United States November 1998
Released in United States January 1999
Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 28 - November 15, 1998.
Shown at Montreal World Film Festival (out of competition) August 27 - September 7, 1998.
Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival September 26 - October 12, 1998.
Shown at Jerusalem Film Festival July 9-18, 1998.
Shown at Locarno International Film Festival August 5-15, 1998.
Shown at Viennale International Film Festival in Vienna October 16-28, 1998.
Shown at London Film Festival November 5-19, 1998.
Shown at Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival January 7-18, 1999.
Began shooting June 1997.
Completed shooting September 5, 1997.
dubbed English
Released in United States Fall October 23, 1998 (NY, LA)
Expanded Release in United States October 30, 1998
Expanded Release in United States November 6, 1998
Released in United States August 27, 1999 (English dubbed version; New York City and Los Angeles)
Released in United States on Video July 20, 1999
Released in United States 1998 (Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 28 - November 15, 1998.)
Released in United States 1998 (Shown at Montreal World Film Festival (out of competition) August 27 - September 7, 1998.)
Released in United States 1998 (Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival September 26 - October 12, 1998.)
Released in United States July 1998 (Shown at Jerusalem Film Festival July 9-18, 1998.)
Released in United States August 1998 (Shown at Locarno International Film Festival August 5-15, 1998.)
Roberto Benigni is the 1998 recipient of the Crystal Globe Award by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League).
Roberto Benigni was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in 1998 by the Directors Guild of America.
Winner of Air Canada People's Choice Award at the 1998 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Winner of five 1998 Silver Ribbon (Nastri D'Argento) Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Roberto Benigni), Best Screenplay, Best Story, and Best Supporting Actor (Giustino Durano).
Winner of Golden Leopard Cub (Record Ticket Sales) at 1998 Locarno International Film Festival.
Winner of nine 1998 David di Donatello Awards (Italian Oscars) including Best Picture.
Winner of the 1998 award for Best Film by the National Association of Italian Journalists.
Winner of the 1998 award for Best Foreign Language Film from the Chicago Film Critics Association. Nominated for a further two awards, including Best Picture, and Best Actor (Roberto Benigni).
Winner of the 1998 Award for Best Foreign Language Film from the Online Film Critics Society.
Winner of the 1998 Broadcast Film Critics Association award for Best Foreign Language Film and nominated for the Best Picture award.
Winner of the 1998 Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film.
Winner of the 1998 Lumiere award for Best Foreign Film.
Winner of the Audience Award at the 1998 Montreal World Film Festival.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 1998 American Film Institute (AFI) Los Angeles International Film Festival.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival.
Winner of the Best Jewish Experience Award at the 1998 Jerusalem International Film Festival.
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.
Winner of three Critic's Awards for Best Film, Best Actor (Benigni), and Best Director (Roberto Benigni) at the 1998 Fort Lauderdale Interational Film Festival.
Winner of two 1998 European Film Awards, including Best Film and Best European Actor (Roberto Benigni).
"Life is Beautiful" was ruled ineligible by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for Golden Globe nominations due to its Italian release date.
Winner of the Special Achievement in Filmmaking Honor (Roberto Benigni) from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, the fourth time the honor has been given.
Released in United States Fall October 23, 1998
Expanded Release in United States October 30, 1998
Released in United States October 1998 (Shown at Viennale International Film Festival in Vienna October 16-28, 1998.)
Released in United States October 1998 (Shown at AFI/Los Angeles International Film Festival (Opening Night Gala) October 22-31, 1998.)
Released in United States November 1998 (Shown at London Film Festival November 5-19, 1998.)
Released in United States January 1999 (Shown at Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival January 7-18, 1999.)
Winner of the 1999 Goya Award for Best European Film.
